Eggnog Fudge

This eggnog fudge recipe is buttery, creamy Christmas perfection made with an eggnog base, marshmallow cream, white chocolate and seasonal spices.

 

What is Eggnog?

If you haven’t tried eggnog before, you are missing out! It is a smooth, creamy beverage made from eggs, milk, vanilla, nutmeg, sugar and heavy cream. 

It is traditionally served cold and enjoyed around the holiday’s as a dessert. Some people enjoy their eggnog spiked with alcohol, but most recipes are kid-friendly and alcohol free. 

Eggnog is surprisingly easy to make, but also readily available in the store if you prefer a shortcut.  Here is our favorite homemade eggnog recipe.

Making Homemade Fudge

Making your own fudge can seem intimidating, but it’s very easy! For this recipe, we are going to use a marshmallow cream base which is popular in many fudge recipes because it is extremely forgiving and gives the fudge an amazing creamy texture. 

Using marshmallow cream to make fudge keeps the fudge moist and super soft. It protects the sugar from over crystalizing so is a great base ingredient for any homemade fudge recipe. 

The key to making eggnog fudge at home, is cooking the mixture just until it reaches the “soft ball” stage. 114 to 115 °C (237 to 239 °F). You can use a candy thermometer for a fool proof batch or estimate by allowing the mixture to reach a full, rolling boil for about 4 minutes. 

Many people make the mistake of starting the timer when the mixture is simmering around the edges, but to get your fudge to set properly it is important to wait for the center to be at a full, rolling boil as well as the edges. 

We have even more fudge recipes like rocky road fudge, peanut butter fudge and fantasy fudge.

Ingredients

You will easily find all of these eggnog fudge ingredients wherever you normally buy groceries.

• Spices – We add a mixture of nutmeg and cinnamon both to the fudge mixture and also a sprinkle on top.
• Sugar – While the marshmallow cream, eggnog and white chocolate all have sugar, we need a little granulated sugar as well.
• Eggnog – I always have a couple cartons in the fridge during the holidays, but you can also make your own homemade eggnog.
• Unsalted butter – I always cook and bake with unsalted butter to be able to control the salt content.
• Fine sea salt – If using salted butter, be sure to omit this extra salt. No one wants a salty fudge!
• Marshmallow cream – Also known as marshmallow creme or marshmallow fluff, this adds flavor and texture to our fudge.
• White chocolate morsels – White chocolate gives this fudge the perfect creamy texture, while also providing structure.

Variations

There are plenty of ways to make this creamy eggnog fudge recipe your own. Here are a few ideas.

• Rum – If you want a heavily rum flavored fudge, I would stick with using eggnog that contains rum rather than adding it separately to the fudge ingredients. It will help keep the liquid ratio correct. You can also add ¼ teaspoon of rum extract to the ingredients as well. 
• No eggnog – If you want a subtle eggnog flavor, without using actual eggnog you can make this recipe as written but substitute regular milk for the egg nog. Whole milk will work best, due to it’s thicker texture. I would also decrease the amount by ¼ cup. 
• Add ins – To give this fudge some texture, you could add in things like white chocolate chips, walnuts or pecans.
• Vanilla – If you want even more warmth and flavor to your fudge, add some good quality vanilla extract.

How to Make Eggnog Fudge

You are going to love how simple it is to make this easy fudge recipe.

1. Combine cinnamon and nutmeg. In a small bowl, combine the cinnamon and nutmeg. Reserve ¼ teaspoon for the topping and set aside.
2. Prepare pan. Prepare a 9-inch square pan or baking dish by lining with parchment paper or aluminum foil. Set aside.
3. Boil butter, sugar, eggnog and salt. In a large saucepan, melt butter with sugar, eggnog, and salt over medium high heat. Bring to a full boil. Stirring continuously until mixture reaches a rolling boil for four minutes. (Soft ball stage- 237 to 239 °F)
4. Stir in remaining ingredients. Remove the mixture from heat. Using an electric mixer and mix with remaining ingredients on medium speed until smooth and white chocolate is completely melted. Pour into the prepared pan.
5. Sprinkle spice over fudge. Sprinkle the remaining cinnamon and nutmeg over the fudge.
6. Allow to set. Place the fudge on an even surface for about four hours to set.
7. Cut and serve. Use a warm, clean knife to slice the fudge for serving.

Storage and Freezing

How to Store Eggnog Fudge

You can leave your fudge out at room temperature or in the fridge in an airtight container. However, fudge does not need to be stored in the refrigerator, in fact, cold air can actually dry the fudge out. Keep in an airtight container for up to 14 days.

How to Freeze Eggnog Fudge

The best thing about this recipe is it can be made in advance and keeps very well!

This eggnog fudge recipe can also be frozen to enjoy long after after the holiday party! When freezing homemade fudge, I like to double wrap it in freezer safe packaging to prevent freezer burn. 

I prefer to freeze fudge in a large block, rather than pre-cutting it. I feel this protects the inside better and ensures the freshest taste possible. 

Be sure to enjoy the fudge within two months. To thaw, bring it out to room temperature about 24 hours before you want to enjoy it. Store in an airtight container for freshness. 

More Eggnog Recipes

Eggnog is by far my favorite winter drink, but it can be used in so many other ways too! Here are a few recipes that use eggnog.